PREVIEW: Co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in opening match of the 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Co-hosts Mexico kick off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa in their first meeting since the opening match in the latter’s tournament in 2010, looking to take the initiative in a tough Group A.

Bafana Bafana managed a surprise 1-1 draw against the Central Americans that year, before becoming the first hosts to exit the group stage before Qatar at their tournament in 2022, despite earning a memorable victory over France.

But Javier Aguirre’s side will be looking to put things right this time around ahead of tricky fixtures against South Korea and Czechia, and are once again favourites to finish top having competed in every tournament since 1994.

Mexico are also in fine form heading into the World Cup, winning eight of the past 10 matches.

The 13-time Gold Cup winners are packed full of quality with half of their squad – including captain Edson Álvarez – playing in Europe, with four of them participating in the continent’s top five leagues.

Atlético Madrid’s Obed Vargas and Álvaro Fidalgo of Real Betis are joined on that list by Santiago Giménez and and centre-back Johan Vásquez, who represent Serie A sides AC Milan and Genoa respectively.

Raul Jímenez will also likely prove an invaluable member of their squad, having amassed plenty of Premier League experience with Wolves, where he has just returned after being released by Fulham at the end of the 2025/26 season.

El Tricolor know that even at this early stage a win could be critical for their knockout hopes, with third place potentially ensuring qualification thanks to the competition’s historic expansion to 48 teams.

Betis midfielder Fidalgo and Álvarez are expected to start for Mexico alongside Vásquez. Javier Quinones of the Saudi Pro League side could also make the cut, while it remains to be seen whether Aguirre will use Jímenez or Giménez up front.

The Mexico City native appears to prefer Jímenez as the lone number nine, but did use the two together during last year’s Gold Cup match against the Dominican Republic, where Gimenez assisted the former Wolves striker for the second goal..

Unlike El Tri, South Africa come into tomorrow’s game in indifferent form after going winless in all their games in 2026 prior to the tournament and were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the round of 16.

Hugo Broos’ men also made tough work of reaching their first World Cup since hosting 16 years ago. Although they topped their group with 18 points, they finished just one point ahead of Nigeria and Benin in qualifying.

Burnley striker Lyle Foster was Bafana Bafana’s only player in a top five European league prior to the Clarets’ relegation this season, and will be expected to shoulder his country’s goalscoring burden despite a difficult club campaign.

Molde centre back Samukele Kabini and Hannover defender Ime Okon are South Africa’s only other squad members playing in Europe, and will also be counted on if they are to perform well in their first World Cup since they hosted 16 years ago.

Mexico’s meeting with South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium kicks off this evening at 20:00 (BST), with coverage on ITV1 and ITVX, as well as STV and STV Player for viewers in Scotland.